JDI's 2019 State Budget and Policy Advocacy Priorities - UPDATE

May 23, 2019

Imagine what would be possible with $1 million for prevention? Better policies to address sexual violence and harassment on school campuses? And civil rights protections for immigrants?

These are but a few of the priorities on JDI's current budget and policy agenda.

JDI and its members collaborate to educate state lawmakers about the needs of survivors and what it will take to prevent gender-based violence.

We need your voice too! Call your State Representative and State Senator and ask them to support the $1million for prevention in the Conference Budget in the coming weeks.

Call your state representative and state senator and let them know that these issues are important to you. You can talk about any of the specific items listed below or simply ask them to support the budget and legislative priorities put forth by JDI.

Here's what you need to know:

STATE BUDGET

JDI's state budget priorities for Fiscal Year 2020 are to maintain level funding for services and to increase the Commonwealth's investment in prevention.

We are asking to maintain the additional $3 million for services passed last year. Both the Governor and the House have included these dollars, so the next step is the Senate.
We are asking for a new investment of $1 million for sexual and domestic violence prevention funding. Governor Baker proposed $1 million, the House voted to allocate $650,000, and the Senate voted for $1 million. It's now up to the conference committee to decide...and we urge them to support the full $1 million.

You can download our budget chart and learn more about how these funds are used to meet the needs of survivors.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR 2019-2020 SESSION

Our Legislative Priorities for the 2019-2010 session address sexual assault on colelge campuses, sexuality education, immigrant rights, sexual harassment, poverty and more.

Education and Prevention

An Act Relative to Sexual Violence on Higher Education Campuses (S764/H1209) (Factsheet)
Comprehensive legislation to address policy, prevention and services to student experiencing sexual assault at institutions of higher education.
Lead Sponsors: Sen. Michael Moore and Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier

An Act Requiring Sexual Misconduct Surveys at Institutions of Higher Education (S736/H1208)
Mandate campus sexual assault climate surveys at all institutions of higher education.
Lead Sponsors: Sen. William Brownsberger and Rep. Lori Ehrlich

An Act Relative to Healthy Youth (S263/H410) (Factsheet)
Ensure that sexuality education, when taught, is age appropriate and medically accurate.
Lead Sponsors: Sen. Sal DiDomenico, Rep. James O’Day, and Rep. Paul Brodeur

Human Rights

An Act to Protect the Civil Rights and Safety of All MA Residents (Safe Communities Act) (S1401/H3573) (Factsheet)
Preserve and restore community trust in police by separating law enforcement and immigration, making it safer for survivors to come forward to seek support and services.
Lead Sponsors: Sen. James B. Eldridge, Reps. Ruth Balser and Liz Miranda

Economic Justice

An Act Relative to the Defense against Abusive Waivers (S1049/H1625) (Factsheet)
Prohibits the use of abusive “pre-dispute waivers” of important employee rights, including in cases of sexual harassment in workplaces.
Lead Sponsors: Sen. Harriette Chandler and Rep. Kenneth Gordon

An Act Relative to Well-Being & Care of a Child (Lift the Cap on Kids) (S37/H104)
Eliminating the harmful “family cap” on TAFDC which prohibits families receiving benefits for some children.
Lead Sponsors: Sen. Sal DiDomenico and Rep. Marjorie Decker

**The House and Senate overrode Governor Baker's veto on 4/25!!

An Act to Lift Kids out of Deep Poverty (S36/H102)
Set a floor on cash assistance at 50% of the federal poverty level.
Lead sponsors: Sen Sal DiDomenico and Rep Marjorie Decker

Note that JDI is a member of On Solid Ground and supports the full policy agenda: https://onsolidgroundma.org/

OTHER SUPPORTING LEGISLATION FOR 2019-2020 SESSION

In addition to our legislative priorities, JDI supports the following legislation.

Economic Justice

An Act to Further Provide a Rental Arrearage Program (H1264) (Factsheet)
Lead Sponsor: Rep. Marjorie Decker

An Act Improving the Earned Income Credit for Working Families (H2434)
Lead Sponsor: Rep. Marjorie Decker

An Act to Remove Obstacles and Expand Abortion Access (ROE Act) (S1209/H3320) (Factsheet)
Lead Sponsors: Sen. Harriette Chandler and Reps. Patricia A. Haddad and Jay Livingstone

An Act to Increase Access to Disposable Menstrual Products in Prisons, Homeless Shelters, and Public Schools (I AM.) (S1274/H1959) (Factsheet)
Lead Sponsors: Sen. Patricia Jehlen and Reps. Jay Livingstone and Christine Barber

Human Rights

An Act Relative to Female Genital Mutilation (S834/H3332) (Factsheet)
Lead Sponsosr: Sen. Joseph A. Boncore & Reps. Natalie M. Higgins & Jay Livingstone

An Act to Assure Informed Consent for Pelvic Examination of Anesthetized or Unconscious Patients (H1991)
Lead Sponsor: Rep. Denise Provost

Systems Change

An Act Protecting Survivors of Rape and Their Children (S914/H3295)
Lead Sponsor: Sen. Sal N. DiDomenico and Reps. Carmine Gentile and Michelle DuBois

An Act Promoting the Safety of Individuals in Custody (H1483)
Lead Sponsors: Reps. Kay Kahn & Marjorie Decker

An Act to Assure Informed Consent for Pelvic Examinations of Anesthetized or Unconscious Patients (H1991)
Lead Sponsor: Rep. Denise Provost

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If you have questions or would like to support our advocacy efforts, please contact Maureen Gallagher, JDI's Policy Director, via info@janedoe.org